Mass. Gen. Laws » Part I Title XIV Chapter 90B
Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90B, § 8A (2026)

Operation of a vessel while under the influence of controlled substances causing serious bodily injury; penalties; parole, probation or furlough; license revocation

✓ current as of July 2026
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Section 8A. (1) Whoever operates a vessel on the waters of the commonwealth with a percentage, by weight, of alcohol in their blood of eight one-hundredths or greater, or while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or marihuana, narcotic drugs, depressants, or stimulant substances, all as defined in chapter ninety-four C, or from smelling or inhaling the fumes of any substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors as defined in section 18 of chapter 270, and so operates said vessel recklessly or negligently so that the lives or safety of the public might be endangered, and by any such operation so described causes serious bodily injury, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not less than two and one-half years nor more than ten years and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not less than six months nor more than two and one-half years and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars.

The sentence imposed upon such person shall not be reduced to less than six months, nor suspended, nor shall any person convicted under this paragraph be eligible for probation, parole, or furlough or receive any deduction from his sentence until such person has served at least six months of such sentence; provided, however, that the commissioner of correction may, on the recommendation of the warden, superintendent, or other person in charge of a correctional institution, grant to an offender committed under this paragraph a temporary release in the custody of an officer of such institution for the following purposes only: to attend the funeral of a relative; to visit a critically ill relative; to obtain emergency medical or psychiatric services unavailable at said institution; or to engage in employment pursuant to a work release program. Prosecutions commenced under this paragraph shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

The provisions of section eighty-seven of chapter two hundred and seventy-six shall not apply to any person charged with a violation of this section.

(2) Whoever operates a vessel on the waters of the commonwealth with a percentage, by weight, of alcohol in their blood of eight one-hundredths or greater, or while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, or of marihuana, narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances, all as defined in chapter ninety-four C, or from smelling or inhaling the fumes of any substance having the property of releasing toxic vapors as defined in section 18 of chapter 270, and by any such operation causes serious bodily injury, shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not less than thirty days nor more than two and one-half years, or by a fine of not less than three thousand dollars, or both.

(3) For the purposes of this section ''serious bodily injury'' shall mean bodily injury which creates a substantial risk of death or which involves either total disability or the loss or substantial impairment of some bodily function for a substantial period of time.

(4) The registrar shall revoke the license or right to operate and the director shall revoke the certificate of number of a person convicted of a violation of this section for a period of two years after the date of conviction. No appeal, motion for new trial or exception shall operate to stay the revocation of said license, right to operate or certificate of number provided, however, that such license, right to operate and certificate of number shall be restored if the prosecution of such person ultimately terminates in favor of the defendant.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, any person whose certificate of number has been revoked under this section may at any time apply for and shall within fifteen days be granted a hearing for the purpose of requesting the issuance of a certificate of number on the grounds of hardship and the director may, in his discretion, issue such certificate of number under such terms and conditions as he deems appropriate and necessary.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 7 cases (3 in the last 5 years), 2002–2026 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Powell, 901 N.E.2d 686 (Mass. 2009).
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Commonwealth v. Powell, 901 N.E.2d 686 (Mass. 2009). · cites it 2× “, G. L. c. 90B, § 8A (1) (causing serious bodily injury by recklessly or negligently operating vessel while under influence of liquor or drugs); G.”
Commonwealth v. Morse, 468 Mass. 360 (Mass. 2014). “265, § 13; serious bodily injury and homicide 2 by vessel, G. L. c. 90B, §§ 8A, 8B; and three counts of child endangerment while operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, G.”
Commonwealth v. McCourt, 767 N.E.2d 1067 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “90, § 24L(3); G. L. c. 90B, § 8A(3); and G. L. c. 265, § 40.”
Commonwealth v. Thompson, 87 Mass. App. Ct. 572 (Mass. App. Ct. 2015). “The defendant was indicted for operating a vessel while under the influence of alcohol pursuant to G. L. c. 90B, § 8A. The Commonwealth appeals from a Superior Court judge’s order allowing the defendant’s motion to suppress the results of a blood test administered after his…”
Commonwealth v. Zucchino (Mass. 2024). “90, § 24 (1) (a), or G. L. c. 90B, § 8A], shall be punished . .”
Commonwealth v. William C. Foley (Mass. 2025). “, states in full: "Any person convicted of operating a motor vehicle after his license to operate has been suspended or revoked pursuant to a violation of [§ 24 (1) (a)], or pursuant to [§ 24D], [24E], [24G], [24L], or [24N] of this chapter, or pursuant to [§ 8 (a)], or pursuant…”
Commonwealth v. Psikarakis; Commonwealth v. Smith (Mass. 2026). “"); G. L. c. 90B, § 8A (1) (person convicted of recklessly or negligently operating vessel while under influence of alcohol or drugs causing bodily injury "shall be punished by imprisonment in the [S]tate prison for not less than two and one-half years nor more than ten years .”
— Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90B, § 8A(3) — 1 case
Commonwealth v. McCourt, 767 N.E.2d 1067 (Mass. App. Ct. 2002). “90, § 24L(3); G. L. c. 90B, § 8A(3); and G. L. c. 265, § 40.”
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